Shelf supporting device



w, 19% a c, REEVES mmsm SHELF SUPPORTING DEVICE Filed May 8, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l s E V E E E c G SHELF SUPPORTING DEVICE 2 Sheets- Sheet 2 Filed May 8, 1933 iizz/emwr 6507;976 6. feaz/ea atentecl Apr. 7, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE SHELF SUPPORTING DEVICE tion of Illinois Application May 8, 1933, Serial No. 669,921

6 Claims.

My invention relates to a shelf supportingdevice and has particular reference to a device having a rubber body and a metallic attaching and reinforcing member embedded therein particularly adapted to be used for the support'of shelves in mechanical refrigerators.

The primary object of my invention is the provision of a shelf supporting device having a rubber body having a portion adapted to support a shelf and having a portion adapted to engage against the side wall whereby when the device is placed in position the rubber is placed under tension thereby holding the supporting device securely in position upon the side wall of the refrigerator.

Another and further object of my invention is the provision of a shelf supporting device which can be easily attached to and detached from the wall of a refrigerator so that when it is desired to clean the inner walls of the refrigerator the shelves can be removed and the supporting hooks detached from the wall, presenting an uninterrupted flat surface which is easily cleaned and upon which there is little opportunity for injury to the person doing the cleaning.

Another and further object of my invention is the provision of a hook which can be attached to the wall of a refrigerator after the refrigerator is built, and which is not, as is the case at the present time, attached to the wall sections before they are placed in position in the refrigerator. It might also be possible to provide various spaced openings in the wall of the refrigerator so that the shelves may be adjustably positioned therein if desired.

Another and further object of my invention is the provision of a shelf supporting device having a wall engaging portion which is slightly curved and which when placed in position in the refrigerator wall is distorted and flattened out, thereby placing the device under tension and also effectively closing the opening in the refrigerator wall through which the projecting portion of the metallic member extends for securing the device to the refrigerator wall. In this manner the refrigerator is more thoroughly insulated than would otherwise be possible if these openings were ally in contour to this device is embedded therein during the manufacture "of the device, so that the device is firmly and effectively secured in position against the supporting wall.

Another and further object of my invention is the provision of a rubber formed member having a metallic member embedded therein, with a portion of the metallic member projecting therefrom which is adapted to be inserted through a slotted opening in a wall, such as a refrigerator wall or the like, and then the device moved downward so that the shelf supporting member is thoroughly secured to the refrigerator wall, the downwardly turned metallic portion having an inclined edge which engages upon the metallic wall thereby effectively wedging the shelf supporting member in position against the refrigerator wall.

These and other objects of my invention will be more fully and better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, and in which- Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the preferred form of my improved device attached to a section of a wall similar to that used for the lining of refrigerators;

Figu're2 is a sectional view on line 2-201? Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a rear view of the device shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the shelf supporting member;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the metallic member embedded in the rubber shelf supporting device;

4 Figure '6 is a front elevational view of another form of device attached to a wall section;

Figure 7 is a sectional view on lines 'il of Figure 6;

- :Figure 8 is a rear view of the device shown in Figure '6;

Figure!) is a side elevational view of the shelf supporting device; and

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the metallic member embedded in the shelf supporting device shown in Figures 6 to 9, inclusive.

Referring now specifically to the drawings and in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout, a wall [0 is shown having a slot ll therein and within which a shelf supporting device, designated as a whole as I2, is adapted to be inserted. The shelf supporting device I2 is composed of a rubber member and a metallic member embedded therein and having a portion projecting therefrom. The metallic member has an L-shaped body portion [3, projecting end portion I4 and a downwardly turned portion I5 which has an inclined edge on its inner side which engages the wall I 0, the downwardly turned end portion forming a hook with an inclined inner face which engages the wall I and distorts the rubber member placing a portion of this member under tension, thereby holding the member in position and sealing the opening in the wall ID. The member I2 has a shelf supporting surface I having a head portion IT, with a base I8 forming a wall engaging portion which covers the slots II in the wall I0 and effectively closes these slots against the passage of air either into or out of the inner compartment of the refrigerator. The wall engaging surface of the portion I8 is formed into a concave surface I9 and which, when the member I2 is in position against the wall I0, is distorted and conforms to the wall I0, particularly as shown in Figure 2.

In Figures 6 to 10 inclusive a modified form of device is shown which comprises a rubber member 20 and a metallic member 2| embedded therein and having an end portion 22 projecting therefrom which is downwardly turned to form a hook 23. The metallic member 2| has a portion 24 extending downwardly therefrom with a curved portion 25 which is joined to the body of the member 2| and to the end of the portion 24, these portions forming a brace which assists in supporting the device when placed in position in a shelf. The member I 'I is parallel with the wall upon which the device is mounted and the inner edge of the portion 23 is inclined so as to draw the member tightly against the wall when placed in position. The member 20 has a shelf support ing surface 26 and a head portion 21 and wall engaging portions 28 and 29 which cover the slots I I in the wall I0 and effectively close these slots against the passage of air either into or out of the inner compartment of the refrigerator. A downwardly extending bracing rubber portion 30 is integrally formed with the member 20 which covers the bracing portion of the metallic member and assists in holding the shelf supporting member in position. The inner surfaces of the portions 28 and 29 are concave so that when the member is placed in position against the wall It] the rubber member is distorted and engages tightly against the wall to hold the member in position and form a sealing member.

In the manufacture of each of the devices, the metallic members are placed in a mold and the rubber in a plastic state is pressed around these members and vulcanized in that position so that the rubber is tightly secured to the metallic members, and in the form shown in Figures 6 to 10, the rubber is pressed into the opening formed by the supporting metallic member. The rubber is pressed around the metallic member firmly so that there is no chance of the rubber and metallic member separating, with the layer of rubber being placed over the parallel portion of the metallic members for contact withthe wall In of the refrigerator, whereby closing the slots and effectually insulating the inner compartment of the refrigerator.

As formed completely (Figures 4 and. 9) the ends of the metallic members project from the end of the rubber shelf supporting member and in placing the device in position this member is placed through the slot II in the wall I0 until the hook portions engage over the wall I0 and thereafter the device is pressed downwardly until the lower edge of the slotted cover In comes in contact with the throat formed by the hooked portions of the metallic members, in which position the rubber supporting member is firmly held in position against the wall ID of the refrigerator. Because of the wedging action of the hooked portions of the metallic member the rubber is placed under tension, thereby effectively closing the slot I I and tightening the hook firmly in position against the wall I0.

When it is desired to remove the hook from the refrigerator wall it is pushed upward until the hooked ends are free of the wall If! at the bottom of the slotted opening II, when the device, due to the tension under which the rubber is placed, will automatically be forced through the slot II and free itself from the wall II]. If for any reason these shelf supporting devices are broken they can be replaced in the manner above described and can be placed in position after the refrigerator casing is assembled rather than before, as is common practice at the present time.

While I have described more or less precisely the details of construction, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself thereto, as I contemplate changes in form and the proportion of parts and the substitution of equivalents as circumstances may suggest or render expedient without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. A shelf supporting member comprising a rubber body member having a shelf supporting surface and a portion adapted to contact with a supporting wall and having a supporting portion, and a metallic member embedded in said rubber body member having a portion projecting from said body member and having a downwardly turned end portion.

2. A shelf supporting member comprising a rubber body member having a shelf supporting surface and a portion adapted to contact with a supporting wall and having a supporting portion, and a metallic member embedded in said rubber body member having a portion projecting from said body member and having a downwardly turned end portion, substantially parallel with the surface of the portion of the body member adapted to contact with the wall surface.

3. A shelf supporting member comprising, in combination, a rubber body member having a shelf supporting portion, a wall engaging portion and a. support portion for said shelf supporting portion, and a metallic member in said rubber body member extending longitudinally thereof and having one end projecting therefrom, said end portion being formed into a wall engaging member having an inclined edge.

4. A shelf supporting member comprising, in combination, a rubber body member having a shelf supporting portion, a wall engaging portion and a support portion for said shelf supporting portion, and a metallic member in said rubber body member extending longitudinally thereof and having one end projecting therefrom, said end portion being formed into a wall engaging member having an inclined edge, said metallic member having a portion thereof embedded in said rubber body support portion.

5. A shelf supporting member comprising, in combination, an elastic body member having a shelf supporting portion and a portion adapted to contact with a supporting wall and seal an opening therein, and a metallic member embedded in said body member and extending approximately throughout the entire length of the body member and having an end portion projecting therefrom angularly turned whereby a wall engaging portion is formed.

6. A shelf supporting member comprising, in combination, an elastic body member having a shelf supporting portion and a portion having a concave bearing surface adapted to contact with a supporting wall and seal an opening therein, and a metallic member embedded in said body member and extending approximately throughout the entire length of the body member and having an end portion projecting therefrom angularly turned whereby a Wall engaging portion is formed.

GEORGE C. REEVES. 

